}}{{tnr}}'''Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin''' (b. November 9, 1939) is a [[Democratic]] member of the [[U.S. Senate]] from the state of [[Iowa]]. Harkin was first elected to the Senate in 1984.

+

}}{{tnr}}'''Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin''' (b. November 19, 1939 in Cumming, Iowa) is a [[Democratic]] member of the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] from the state of [[Iowa]]. Harkin was first elected to the Senate in 1984.<ref name="bioguide">[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000206 ''Bioguide'' "Tom Harkin" Accessed June 21, 2013]</ref>

−

+

−

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by ''GovTrack'', Harkin is a "[[GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking|moderate Democratic leader]]".<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=300051 ''Gov Track'' "Tom Harkin," Accessed March 3, 2012]</ref>

+

On January 26, 2013, Harkin announced that he would not seek re-election once his current term expires. Upon his retirement, he will have served in the U.S. Senate for 30 years. Prior to this, he served in the U.S. House for ten years. He told ''USA Today,'' "I have mixed feelings. You know what, it's somebody else's turn. To walk away from this position and this power is not an easy thing. But I think it's the right thing."<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/01/26/iowa-senator-tom-harkin-retires/1866407/ ''USA Today'' "Iowa Sen. Harkin will not seek re-election," January 26, 2013]</ref>

On January 26, 2013, Harkin announced that he would not seek re-election once his current term expires. Upon his retirement, he will have served in the U.S. Senate for 30 years. Prior to this, he served in the U.S. House for ten years. He told ''USA Today,'' "I have mixed feelings. You know what, it's somebody else's turn. To walk away from this position and this power is not an easy thing. But I think it's the right thing."<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/01/26/iowa-senator-tom-harkin-retires/1866407/ ''USA Today'' "Iowa Sen. Harkin will not seek re-election," January 26, 2013]</ref>

+

+

Harkin served in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] from 1975 to 1985.<ref name="bioguide"/>

+

+

{{Introanalysis

+

|Party=Democratic

+

|Rating=Average

+

|Pronoun=he

+

|Fullname=Tom Harkin

+

|Lastname=Harkin

+

}}

==Biography==

==Biography==

−

Harkin was born in 1939 in Cumming, Iowa. He earned his B.A. from Iowa State University in in 1962 and his J.D. from Catholic University of America in 1972. Sanders has also worked as a carpenter and journalist.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=h000206 ''Biographical Guide to Members of Congress'' "Thomas Richard Harkin," Accessed October 18, 2011]</ref>

+

Harkin was born in 1939 in Cumming, Iowa. He earned his B.A. from Iowa State University in in 1962 and his J.D. from Catholic University of America in 1972.

==Career==

==Career==

−

Below is an abbreviated outline of Harkin's political career:

+

Below is an abbreviated outline of Harkin's career:

−

*U.S. House of Representatives, 1975-1985

+

*U.S. Navy, 1962-1967

−

*U.S. Senate, 1985-Present

+

*U.S. Naval Reserve, 1968-1974

+

*[[U.S. House of Representatives]], 1975-1985

+

*[[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]], 1985-Present

+

+

Harkin had a legal practice in Des Moines, served in United States Navy and Naval reserves, worked an attorney for Polk County, Iowa, Legal Aid Society in 1973 and was a member on the board of directors for the Iowa Consumers League.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=h000206 ''Biographical Guide to Members of Congress'' "Thomas Richard Harkin," Accessed October 18, 2011]</ref>

Harkin's decision to retire after five terms in the [[U.S. Senate|Senate]] provides a great opportunity for [[Republicans]].<ref name="fiscal"/> Rep. [[Bruce Braley]] ([[Democratic|D]]) is reportedly the likeliest [[Democratic]] nominee.<ref name="fiscal"/> On the Republican side, early polling indicates that conservative Rep. [[Steve King (Iowa)|Steve King]] leads the early primary field, but Rep. [[Tom Latham]] does better in general election matchups. While there are other Republican possibilities, it seems likely that one of these two would be the front-runner for the nomination.<ref name="fiscal"/>

Harkin's decision to retire after five terms in the [[U.S. Senate|Senate]] provides a great opportunity for [[Republicans]].<ref name="fiscal"/> Rep. [[Bruce Braley]] ([[Democratic|D]]) is reportedly the likeliest [[Democratic]] nominee.<ref name="fiscal"/> On the Republican side, early polling indicates that conservative Rep. [[Steve King (Iowa)|Steve King]] leads the early primary field, but Rep. [[Tom Latham]] does better in general election matchups. While there are other Republican possibilities, it seems likely that one of these two would be the front-runner for the nomination.<ref name="fiscal"/>

−

===2008===

+

===Full history===

−

On November 4, 2008, Harkin won re-election to the [[United States Senate]]. He defeated Christopher Reed (R) in the general election.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm 'U.S. Congress House Clerk'' "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008"]</ref>

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by ''GovTrack'', Harkin is a "[[GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking|moderate Democratic leader]]," as of June 21, 2013.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=300051 ''Gov Track'' "Tom Harkin," Accessed June 21, 2013]</ref>

+

+

===Lifetime voting record===

+

::''See also: [[Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives]]''

+

+

According to the website ''GovTrack,'' Harkin missed 373 of 9,536 roll call votes from Jan 1985 to Mar 2013. This amounts to 3.9%, which is worse than the median of 1.7% among currently serving senators as of March 2013.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/thomas_harkin/300051 ''GovTrack,'' "Tom Harkin," Accessed March 29, 2013]</ref>

+

+

===Congressional staff salaries===

::''See also: [[Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives]]''

::''See also: [[Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives]]''

−

The website ''Legistorm'' compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Harkin paid his congressional staff a total of $2,814,112 in 2011. He ranks 18th on the list of the highest paid Democratic Senatorial Staff Salaries and he ranks 21st overall of the highest paid Senatorial Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, [[Iowa]] ranks 26th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average [[U.S. Senate]] congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.<ref>[http://www.legistorm.com/member/48/Sen_Tom_Harkin.html LegiStorm "Tom Harkin"]</ref>

+

The website ''Legistorm'' compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Harkin paid his congressional staff a total of $2,814,112 in 2011. He ranks 18th on the list of the highest paid Democratic Senatorial Staff Salaries and he ranks 21st overall of the highest paid Senatorial Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, [[Iowa]] ranks 26th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.<ref>[http://www.legistorm.com/member/48/Sen_Tom_Harkin.html LegiStorm "Tom Harkin"]</ref>

===Net worth===

===Net worth===

Line 143:

Line 196:

====2011====

====2011====

Each year ''National Journal'' publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Harkin ranked 5th in the liberal rankings among U.S. Senators.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings2011/searchable-vote-ratings-tables-senate-20120223 ''National Journal,'' "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: Senate," February 23, 2012]</ref>

Each year ''National Journal'' publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Harkin ranked 5th in the liberal rankings among U.S. Senators.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings2011/searchable-vote-ratings-tables-senate-20120223 ''National Journal,'' "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: Senate," February 23, 2012]</ref>

Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin (b. November 19, 1939 in Cumming, Iowa) is a Democratic member of the U.S. Senate from the state of Iowa. Harkin was first elected to the Senate in 1984.[1]

On January 26, 2013, Harkin announced that he would not seek re-election once his current term expires. Upon his retirement, he will have served in the U.S. Senate for 30 years. Prior to this, he served in the U.S. House for ten years. He told USA Today, "I have mixed feelings. You know what, it's somebody else's turn. To walk away from this position and this power is not an easy thing. But I think it's the right thing."[2]

Career

Harkin had a legal practice in Des Moines, served in United States Navy and Naval reserves, worked an attorney for Polk County, Iowa, Legal Aid Society in 1973 and was a member on the board of directors for the Iowa Consumers League.[3]

Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Chairman

Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA

Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development

Subcommittee on Defense

Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations

Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, HUD, and Related Agencies

Issues

Fiscal Cliff

Harkin voted against the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of three Democrats that voted against the bill. The bill was passed in the Senate by a 89/8 vote on January 1, 2013.[6]

Harkin's decision to retire after five terms in the Senate provides a great opportunity for Republicans.[8] Rep. Bruce Braley (D) is reportedly the likeliest Democratic nominee.[8] On the Republican side, early polling indicates that conservative Rep. Steve King leads the early primary field, but Rep. Tom Latham does better in general election matchups. While there are other Republican possibilities, it seems likely that one of these two would be the front-runner for the nomination.[8]

Full history

To view the full congressional electoral history for Tom Harkin, click [show] to expand the section.

2008

On November 4, 2008, Tom Harkin won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Christopher Reed (R) in the general election.[9]

U.S. Senate, Iowa General Election, 2008

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Democratic

Tom Harkinincumbent

62.7%

941,665

Republican

Christopher Reed

37.3%

560,006

Total Votes

1,501,671

2002

On November 5, 2002, Tom Harkin won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Greg Ganske (R), Richard J. Moore (L), Timothy A. Harthan (Iowa Green Party) in the general election.[10]

U.S. Senate, Iowa General Election, 2002

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Democratic

Tom Harkinincumbent

54.2%

554,278

Republican

Greg Ganske

43.8%

447,892

Libertarian

Richard J. Moore

0.9%

8,864

Green

Timothy A. Harthan

1.1%

11,340

N/A

Write-in

0.1%

701

Total Votes

1,023,075

1996

On November 5, 1996, Tom Harkin won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Jim Lightfoot (R), Fred Gratzon (Natural Law), Sue Atkinston (Nomination by Petition), Joe Sulentic (Nomination by Petition) and Shirley E. Pena (Socialist Workers) in the general election.[11]

U.S. Senate, Iowa General Election, 1996

Party

Candidate

Vote %

Votes

Democratic

Tom Harkinincumbent

51.8%

634,166

Republican

Jim Lightfoot

46.7%

571,807

Natural Law

Fred Gratzon

0.3%

4,248

Nomination by Petition

Sue Atkinson

0.8%

9,768

Nomination by Petition

Joe Sulentic

0.2%

1,941

Socialist Workers

Shirley E. Pena

0.2%

1,844

N/A

Write-in

0%

280

Total Votes

1,224,054

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Harkin is available dating back to 2002. Based on available campaign finance records, Harkin raised a total of $17,864,005 during that time period. This information was last updated on April 3, 2013.[12]

Lifetime voting record

According to the website GovTrack, Harkin missed 373 of 9,536 roll call votes from Jan 1985 to Mar 2013. This amounts to 3.9%, which is worse than the median of 1.7% among currently serving senators as of March 2013.[14]

Congressional staff salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Harkin paid his congressional staff a total of $2,814,112 in 2011. He ranks 18th on the list of the highest paid Democratic Senatorial Staff Salaries and he ranks 21st overall of the highest paid Senatorial Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, Iowa ranks 26th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.[15]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Harkin's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $10,006,120 and $22,018,001. That averages to $16,012,060, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic Senators in 2011 of $20,795,450. His average net worth decreased by 3.52% from 2010.[16]

2010

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Harkin's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $10,276,123 and $22,918,001. That averages to $16,597,062, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic Senators in 2010 of $19,383,524.[17]

National Journal vote ratings

2012

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Harkin ranked 15th in the liberal rankings in 2012.[18]

2011

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of congress voted in the previous year. Harkin ranked 5th in the liberal rankings among U.S. Senators.[19]

Voting with party

2013

Tom Harkin voted with the Democratic Party 96.1% of the time, which ranked 18th among the 52 Senate Democratic members as of June 2013.[20]

Recent news

This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term Tom + Harkin + Iowa + Senate

All stories may not be relevant to this page due to the nature of the search engine.

Loading...

Personal

Harkin has been married to his wife Ruth (nee Raduenz) since 1968. They have two daughters and three grandchildren[21].